“Well, what do you think?”
Karim slipped down the outside of the metal ladder and landed firmly onto the grilled floor with a solid ring. He stepped back thoughtfully and wiped away grease and sweat from his face using a band on his wrist.
Youssouf leaned forward in to the light that was being cast down from the hole in the ceiling directly above and opened his arms wide in a gesture for openness.
“Really?”, Karim answers, “You're actually intending to be serious about this?”
Youssouf pulled a face, “Why would you even ask such a thing? If your poor father could hear you speak now! Surely boy you can see all the potential here?”
Karim walked around the central spur of the engine room shaking his head gently and rubbing at the back of his neck. “It's insane, that's what I think of it. I think you have finally lost your senses, that is what I think.”
Again Youssouf pulled an insulted and shocked face as though the very suggestion from Karim was some form of great outrage. He raised one hand and pressed his thumb and fingers together in a motion of absolute incredulity; “How can you not see the possibility here? These sorts of opportunities my boy, these sorts of ships even, they do not just fall into your lap like this. If we do not act now then we may lose our chance forever. Is that what you want?”
Youssouf circled the room in something of a trance, his face aglow with enthusiasm and excitement. “Just imagine it Karim. We finally become masters of our own fate. This is our time my boy, surely you have to admit that this is a rare moment, a chance for us, for you, to seize your destiny.” Youssouf's gaze fell intently on the young man. He felt certain that he would win this argument.
Karim ran the tip of his tongue along the inside of teeth, his mind a whir of crazed ideas.
“What about the money though?” he asked , “How will you even begin to pay for all this?” Youssouf closed his eyes and waved his arms in a dismissive manner, “Do not even concern yourself about such things my boy, all has already been arranged. I have taken care of everything.”
Karim stalked the room now rubbing at his face and taking sideways glances at his mentor.
“It's crazy, just crazy”.
Youssouf smiled broadly and in warm tones said, “I have already made all the arrangements for our crew, everything is already in place. I just need you by my side, my boy. I need some one I can trust.”
“Crew?” burst out Karim, “Bunch of toffs more like. How many of them are going to be able to even put in a full shift? They look like they've never worked a day in their lives. Do they know what to expect out there Uncle? This is not a pleasure-craft after all”
Youssouf shook his head in disappointment and uttered something in a language that Karim did not understand. “How can you say such things Karim. This pilot I have found for example, he's top class. A real prize.”
“Oh really?”, responds Karim, hands now on his sides, “If he's so hot then why isn't he flying for an established crew. How come he's happy to join you on a jolly in this heap?” Karim kicked out at a fairly hefty pipe and a solid chime rang out in the engine room.
Youssouf tuts repeatedly in disgust, “You have so little faith in me boy, so little faith. This wonder of the heavens is a craft worthy of the Icons themselves. I have inspected it myself and it is overladen with a veritable bounty of technical miracles.”
Karim goes quiet for a moment and then his mouth opens slightly as though he had suddenly realised something really important. He stepped towards Youssouf and looked him carefully in the eye.
“You don't actually know how to operate this sort of craft do you?”
The corner of Youssouf 's mouth twitched slightly. Karim continued, taking more steps towards the captain in order to try to read the face of this slippery master.
“You have no idea what this craft is going to be capable of?”
Youssouf raised his hands to the heavens, “Such filthy insults he reigns down upon me! I hope you all hear him in your “timeless palace” my Lords and Ladies! Such terrible slurs I must bear it seems, but despite all the terrible accusations against me I will still hold out some small hope that this boy may see sense and give an old man the smallest crumb of salvation here. Who would refuse a dying man his last wish after all...”
“You aren't dying yet old man”, interjected Karim, “With your luck you'll bloody outlive the lot of us as well.” The merest flick of a smile tugged at the corner of Youssouf's mouth again.
Karim continued with his protestations, “I mean look, for example, are you telling me you feel that medicurg is going to be of any real use at all?” Youssouf slid forward genuinely surprised at the question here, “What do you mean? He's a craftsman, there can be no doubts at all here.”
Karim walked round the side of a section of pipework and peeked at Youssouf through a small gap between a vent and a fuel pump. “Do you know I caught him sipping the surgical cleaning Kohol the other day?”
Youssouf raised his hands upwards and closed his eyes, “Pah! So the man is curious? So what? His mind is sharp. He has a powerful thirst for knowledge.”
Karim pushed his face further into the gap in the machinery between them, “He seems to have a powerful thirst for something..”
Youssouf rolled his eyes and shook his head in disappointment. “So he likes to drink. So what. We all have our daemons do we not? But, he knows his craft. I have seen it myself. I watched while he stitched up some poor man after some terrible unpleasantness in a bar. He has the hands of a great healer, I can tell.” A little voice deep inside Karim groaned. The more definite Youssouf got then typically the less truthful he was being.
“...And what about our artifact expert, hmm? What on earth are you going to do with such a man on a mining vessel?”
Youssouf put his hands through the mix of pipeworks and rested them on the back of Karim's hands. “Listen my boy. We need an expert for when we want to identify all the rare treasures we will find. This man has credentials. He lectures at the university. He is a learned master”
Karim walked round the section of pipework and back into the main engineering block. He reached down and picked up and digital reading device, poking at it playfully. “I don't trust him Youssouf; he doesn't seem right to me.”
“He's a scholar my boy, what more needs to be said here...?”, responded Youssouf measuredly, “And as such is just as likely to bore you to death as turn crazy himself. Please my boy, think about this possibility. You have nothing to fear with this crew. I see....potential here.”
Karim covered his face with both his hands for a few moments and then after a long and desperate final groan he nodded his reluctant acceptance.
Youssouf grinned and then started making his way over to and then rapidly up the engineering ladder.
“Where are you going now?” asked Karim.
“I have to speak to my new crew and make all the arrangements for our leaving. Besides, I need to leave you to your duties here in engineering.”
Karim, removed his hands from his face and made his way across to the bottom of the metal rung ladder and looked up into the bright light above.
“What do you mean my duties in engineering? I am not an engineer I am a bloody scout!”.
“You are now my boy...” came a voice from somewhere above him.
Karim slipped down the outside of the metal ladder and landed firmly onto the grilled floor with a solid ring. He stepped back thoughtfully and wiped away grease and sweat from his face using a band on his wrist.
Youssouf leaned forward in to the light that was being cast down from the hole in the ceiling directly above and opened his arms wide in a gesture for openness.
“Really?”, Karim answers, “You're actually intending to be serious about this?”
Youssouf pulled a face, “Why would you even ask such a thing? If your poor father could hear you speak now! Surely boy you can see all the potential here?”
Karim walked around the central spur of the engine room shaking his head gently and rubbing at the back of his neck. “It's insane, that's what I think of it. I think you have finally lost your senses, that is what I think.”
Again Youssouf pulled an insulted and shocked face as though the very suggestion from Karim was some form of great outrage. He raised one hand and pressed his thumb and fingers together in a motion of absolute incredulity; “How can you not see the possibility here? These sorts of opportunities my boy, these sorts of ships even, they do not just fall into your lap like this. If we do not act now then we may lose our chance forever. Is that what you want?”
Youssouf circled the room in something of a trance, his face aglow with enthusiasm and excitement. “Just imagine it Karim. We finally become masters of our own fate. This is our time my boy, surely you have to admit that this is a rare moment, a chance for us, for you, to seize your destiny.” Youssouf's gaze fell intently on the young man. He felt certain that he would win this argument.
Karim ran the tip of his tongue along the inside of teeth, his mind a whir of crazed ideas.
“What about the money though?” he asked , “How will you even begin to pay for all this?” Youssouf closed his eyes and waved his arms in a dismissive manner, “Do not even concern yourself about such things my boy, all has already been arranged. I have taken care of everything.”
Karim stalked the room now rubbing at his face and taking sideways glances at his mentor.
“It's crazy, just crazy”.
Youssouf smiled broadly and in warm tones said, “I have already made all the arrangements for our crew, everything is already in place. I just need you by my side, my boy. I need some one I can trust.”
“Crew?” burst out Karim, “Bunch of toffs more like. How many of them are going to be able to even put in a full shift? They look like they've never worked a day in their lives. Do they know what to expect out there Uncle? This is not a pleasure-craft after all”
Youssouf shook his head in disappointment and uttered something in a language that Karim did not understand. “How can you say such things Karim. This pilot I have found for example, he's top class. A real prize.”
“Oh really?”, responds Karim, hands now on his sides, “If he's so hot then why isn't he flying for an established crew. How come he's happy to join you on a jolly in this heap?” Karim kicked out at a fairly hefty pipe and a solid chime rang out in the engine room.
Youssouf tuts repeatedly in disgust, “You have so little faith in me boy, so little faith. This wonder of the heavens is a craft worthy of the Icons themselves. I have inspected it myself and it is overladen with a veritable bounty of technical miracles.”
Karim goes quiet for a moment and then his mouth opens slightly as though he had suddenly realised something really important. He stepped towards Youssouf and looked him carefully in the eye.
“You don't actually know how to operate this sort of craft do you?”
The corner of Youssouf 's mouth twitched slightly. Karim continued, taking more steps towards the captain in order to try to read the face of this slippery master.
“You have no idea what this craft is going to be capable of?”
Youssouf raised his hands to the heavens, “Such filthy insults he reigns down upon me! I hope you all hear him in your “timeless palace” my Lords and Ladies! Such terrible slurs I must bear it seems, but despite all the terrible accusations against me I will still hold out some small hope that this boy may see sense and give an old man the smallest crumb of salvation here. Who would refuse a dying man his last wish after all...”
“You aren't dying yet old man”, interjected Karim, “With your luck you'll bloody outlive the lot of us as well.” The merest flick of a smile tugged at the corner of Youssouf's mouth again.
Karim continued with his protestations, “I mean look, for example, are you telling me you feel that medicurg is going to be of any real use at all?” Youssouf slid forward genuinely surprised at the question here, “What do you mean? He's a craftsman, there can be no doubts at all here.”
Karim walked round the side of a section of pipework and peeked at Youssouf through a small gap between a vent and a fuel pump. “Do you know I caught him sipping the surgical cleaning Kohol the other day?”
Youssouf raised his hands upwards and closed his eyes, “Pah! So the man is curious? So what? His mind is sharp. He has a powerful thirst for knowledge.”
Karim pushed his face further into the gap in the machinery between them, “He seems to have a powerful thirst for something..”
Youssouf rolled his eyes and shook his head in disappointment. “So he likes to drink. So what. We all have our daemons do we not? But, he knows his craft. I have seen it myself. I watched while he stitched up some poor man after some terrible unpleasantness in a bar. He has the hands of a great healer, I can tell.” A little voice deep inside Karim groaned. The more definite Youssouf got then typically the less truthful he was being.
“...And what about our artifact expert, hmm? What on earth are you going to do with such a man on a mining vessel?”
Youssouf put his hands through the mix of pipeworks and rested them on the back of Karim's hands. “Listen my boy. We need an expert for when we want to identify all the rare treasures we will find. This man has credentials. He lectures at the university. He is a learned master”
Karim walked round the section of pipework and back into the main engineering block. He reached down and picked up and digital reading device, poking at it playfully. “I don't trust him Youssouf; he doesn't seem right to me.”
“He's a scholar my boy, what more needs to be said here...?”, responded Youssouf measuredly, “And as such is just as likely to bore you to death as turn crazy himself. Please my boy, think about this possibility. You have nothing to fear with this crew. I see....potential here.”
Karim covered his face with both his hands for a few moments and then after a long and desperate final groan he nodded his reluctant acceptance.
Youssouf grinned and then started making his way over to and then rapidly up the engineering ladder.
“Where are you going now?” asked Karim.
“I have to speak to my new crew and make all the arrangements for our leaving. Besides, I need to leave you to your duties here in engineering.”
Karim, removed his hands from his face and made his way across to the bottom of the metal rung ladder and looked up into the bright light above.
“What do you mean my duties in engineering? I am not an engineer I am a bloody scout!”.
“You are now my boy...” came a voice from somewhere above him.
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